| 520 | ## | $aA sweeping, meticulously researched history of Israel from the modern Zionist awakening in the late 19th century to the early 21st century. Gilbert traces the ideological roots of the Zionist movement through key personalities—Herzl, Weizmann, Ben‑Gurion—and pivotal milestones: Balfour Declaration, UN partition, declaration of statehood (1948), and Israel’s formative wars (Suez 1956, Six‑Day 1967, Yom Kippur 1973). Drawing on extensive primary sources—letters, diaries, government documents—and eyewitness testimony, the book chronicles nation‑building efforts, social transformations, security challenges, diplomatic breakthroughs (Camp David, Oslo), and cultural-economic development, portraying a resilient society shaped by conflict, creativity, and pluralism. |